The Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays could both be looking for outfielders this offseason, and Seiya Suzuki could be the best option.
Suzuki is 32 years old and posted a .271/.368/.473 slash line with 26 home runs this year. In five seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Suzuki hit 113 home runs, but the big knock on him has always been his defense. This year, he changed that narrative. He is a Gold Glove Award finalist and is hitting the open market in what is a relatively weak free-agent class.
He is one of the only right-handed power bats on the market and is arguably the best outfielder available this offseason. Randy Arozarena is also an option for the Phillies or Blue Jays, but both teams should heavily pursue Suzuki.
The Blue Jays already reportedly have their eyes on him, but the Phillies have an aggressive front office, led by Dave Dombrowski, and certainly need him. Outside of Brandon Marsh, who was an All-Star but struggled in the second half, the Phillies have no reliable outfielders.
Assuming Bryce Harper returns to first base, the Phillies will need two outfielders this offseason if they want to remain contenders. They need to capitalize on their time with Harper and Kyle Schwarber, who are not getting any younger, and adding Suzuki would help them.
He does not chase a ton of pitches, and ranks in the 91st percentile for barrel rate. He would be a great addition for the Phillies, but just like them, the Blue Jays need help as well. They missed the postseason after reaching the World Series last year, and their offense was a problem.
They ranked 29th in OPS and last in home runs. The offense should get a huge boost if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returns to form, but they still need a player like Suzuki. Their outfield struggled all season, and Anthony Santander has not panned out as the team had hoped in right field. Suzuki could go a long way in fixing the mistake they made when they signed Santander.
If Santander does come back, he could serve as a designated hitter with George Springer possibly leaving in free agency.
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